First Time Mums Alone in Pandemic with Newborn

[BakeOffRewatch]

Thought I’d start this after engaging in @bleachblondemum’s thread. I think some chat with people with common understanding about how our resources are already low after a pandemic pregnancy and birth, and then not having the usual face to face local support from other new mums you meet at groups and seeing their babies to know yours is fine, as well as the convolutions needed to get your baby registered and seen to for any health concerns!

I find Mondays the hardest, they feel so long after a lovely weekend with husband. I had a 3 hour nap yesterday afternoon. I’m holding my baby now as she naps. I have been a LONG time lurker, and now spend feeds and nap holdings reading on here, would be nice to talk to other mums in similar situation.

Did people enjoy the sunshine this weekend?

@FTEngineerM some babies (& parents) just aren’t ready yet & there’s no harm in that! When they’re ready they’re ready there’s nights my LO ends up in with me too & I love those snuggly nights!!

@MrsW150917 oh no your poor poor baby! That honestly sounds so awful! It’s terrible the lack of services due to Covid, it’s beginning to get ridiculous 😭 I’m glad to hear somethings starting to help though!

I’m having the opposite problem & my LO is having terrible constipation ☹️ Been giving him prune puree every day but it’s not working, going to need to contact the GP in the morning to see what we can do cause he’s so uncomfortable ☹️

@Newmama29 awww poor baby I hope he gets well soon it's horrible isn't it when you know they are in pain and there's nothing we can do 😢 xx

Ladies: it’s taken a while I’ll admit.

But he’s in his cot, in his own room, and I’m glaring at the monitor I swear it’s going to burn my retina I’m looking so closely.

thank you all for you encouragement.
Hopefully we’re in for a smooth night, fingers crossed for me.

@Newmama29 did you sort out LOs constipation?

@FTEngineerM yes thank you for asking! The nurse at our gp practice prescribed some laxido & it’s worked a treat! Cutting him down to half a sachet now seeing as it’s worked so well 🙈
How is LO doing in their own room? 🥰

@MrsW150917 all good a month later?

I’ve been neglecting this thread as I’d just be moaning! We’ve gone backwards with sleep, reflux, my MH. Argh. Been referred to paediatrics now, and baby’s omeprazole dose has been upped. I feel awful cos she’s a pretty easy baby to be honest, but I can’t handle the lack of sleep (wakes as soon as on back and screams, so either constantly resettle or cosleep) and the constant clean up and clothes changing of vomit.

Does anyone else find mumsnet notifications are very hit and miss too? I don’t always get notified of new posts on this thread.

I did buy some nice new clothes though and no longer wear maternity leggings hurrah. Posted what I bought here www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/a4225100-New-mum-style-practical-help-please?msgid=107526340#107526340

Baby and I went to a fancy London restaurant for lunch yesterday, she was SO good. The waiting staff were so nice too. I was really nervous about it, but I just quickly breastfed her under a muslin when she fussed, she fell asleep and I continued the meal one handed (chopsticks) - I felt like, ah this is my moment, I am winning. Today has made up for it, lots of fussing, screaming. I think she just doesn’t like being at home alone with me!

I bought a travel pushchair, the new Mamas & Papas Airo, purely cos can collapse it completely with one hand, the babyzen yo-yo you need both hands for unclipping hood. We took it into central London once, it was good can definitely see myself using it by myself with baby to get up and down tube and to museums and so on.

Anyone done anything nice since May 17th with baby? I place marked this post @museummumblog shared about non-walking baby friendly places and have been sharing with friends www.instagram.com/p/COvg-Pkn6Hg/ The rubbish weather is putting it off though!

Well done @FTEngineerM on getting baby in own room!

Hey @BakeOffRewatch glad to hear you and LO are well. And I say the exact same thing as you've said!! When I am visiting family or out and about or at baby sensory he is so settled and happy and as soon as we get home he cries and won't settle ☹️ it's almost as if he doesn't like being at home ! But I think it's more so he likes noise and people around as this seems to settle him.
He is doing so much better on the LF formula and his nasty rash has disappeared now thank goodness!
He is currently on Omeprazole and Carabel thickener to treat his silent reflux.
I've literally just sent an update email to the dietician to say I can see slight improvements but nothing significant yet. Still hiccups after almost every feed, and he gags then pulls a face as though something tastes nasty in his mouth which I'm assuming is acid. But the arching of the back and struggling/discomfort during and after feeds has calmed down so we're 50/50 with the reflux at the moment.

I miss breast feeding ☹️ if it wasn't for this lactose intolerance and the fact he was poorly for a while I'd have carried on.

Glad to hear you and little lady are well. I haven't braved a restaurant with him yet but we're booked for lunch this Sunday so hopefully it goes smoothly lol but I'll probably end up eating with one hand too hah

Hope everyone else is doing well xx

Case in point, no mumsnet notification that there’s a new post on this thread but I got an email saying I’d been @‘d.

I’m still breastfeeding and approaching weaning with great caution. One cough and game over.. big vomit! If I drink anything milk it has a big impact on baby. I can’t wait to stop breastfeeding but feel it’s the best way until reflux is sorted - but then some people say it’s all solved once babies are weaned. Yours is still very young right @MrsW150917? My baby is 6 months now. I’m sorry your breastfeeding journey stopped sooner than you would like.

Sunday lunch sounds lovely! Slice everything on the plate while you have the chance

Yeah @BakeOffRewatch he's only 9 weeks but they said because of the intolerance I'd have to take tablets to reduce the lactose in my milk. But it's never going to completely 100% get rid of it out of the milk so I didn't want to risk it and just decided to ditch the BF as can rely on the formula to make sure he's not getting any. And he's enjoying it too and still thriving so we're happy with that 😊

Lol I shall bear the pre-slicing of everything in mind. May have to get my mom to feed me while I feed him 🤣

Hi nearly a month later sorry! Does anyone else find the website isn’t reliable with notifications?

I’ve been coming out of lurking on other parts of mumsnet, posting in property. My house is up for sale, buyer fell through, and I told my DP he has to deal with all of it now, as I’ve been letting ruin my mat leave to be honest.

@MrsW150917 your baby is likely out of the fourth trimester now right? Hope his issues have resolved themselves. Those first three months were this a,along, but terrifying bubble! Lockdown did not help.

I have been avoiding this thread a bit, I’ve realised I’ve got so much to recover from, not just physically. I’ve told work now I’m going to take full mat leave, even though I don’t like not being at work. I think I need the time. I made a complaint a few weeks ago to the NHS trust and waiting on outcome of something that happened during the birth (how I was treated, not anything “serious” like to the baby). I’ve been sitting on it for a while and have been supported by other NHS people who validated what happened, but I just sort of want 2020 to go away, but it’s there forever as an experience isn’t it?

@FTEngineerM how’s keeping baby in his own room? Our baby’s room get to 28 degrees in the hear so back in our bed for the past month or so! For daytime naps as well. Undone all our good work.

@Newmama29 how is your baby?

@BakeOffRewatch things have been going well. Down to 2 bottles a day & sleeping all night! However, a sleep regression must have hit because the last few nights I’ve had a nightmare with him

@BakeOffRewatch sorry I never seen your second last message. I’m sorry you’re having a stressful time! Taking a longer maternity leave will do you some good & take the time to decompress & get some support. I’m due back to work next month after being off for a year & a half (nurse & pregnant in pandemic so stopped in March), I’m nervous but looking forward to it now! I hope everything manages to fall into place for you with your house.

Heeeey, sorry, I saw this ages ago but we were so busy!

It’s been a disaster, still in our bed.
Moved him into his own room then DO or me was sleeping in the floor on a mattress and it all felt a bit disconnected and like we were flatmates so all back in bed.

To be fair it’s been one ducking this after another too, cold, teeth, cold, teeth, leap, teeth. Argh!

He’s 1 now and DS2 is only 11 weeks away from joining us so we’ve actually got to do something.

Is it cooler in your house now @BakeOffRewatch? 28 degrees is rank, my DO would be sleeping in iced towels if we were subjected to that 😂
How was your complaint to the nhs? I hope you’re doing ok, it must be difficult to move on if you’ve got things lingering in the back of you mind. Remember the year is there for you to recover fully so please try not to worry about taking it❤️ I almost had a year off I think it was 10.5 months in the end, some don’t go back too, it’s a continuum.